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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE moment most of the country’s football followers have been waiting for is here and it is the epic clash between Highlanders and Dynamos.
The two local powerhouses with a great football history face off in the return leg of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer league at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.
It will probably be Highlanders’ last “home” match of the season at their favourite fortress before it is closed to allow renovations for December’s African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games set for Bulawayo.
The blockbuster encounter couldn’t have come at a better time than this, when both teams are level on 32 points after 18 rounds of matches and as the championship race approaches the final third both would want to bag maximum points to keep their title hopes alive.
Besides the three points, bragging rights are at stake with both sets of players and fans eager to emerge victorious and that is what makes the encounter even harder to miss.
The clash between Bosso and DeMbare just invokes both emotions and memories, something the Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu is aware of.
For Highlanders supporters to win the league title without beating Dynamos does not give them full gratification and the same can be said of DeMbare’s followers.
“I know and have realised that because of the rivalry of the two teams, this encounter goes beyond football but we must remain focused. It is a tricky tie for us as well as our supporters but I have faith and confidence that we can win this tie. We have lost to Dynamos before but this is a different ball game altogether,” said Kaindu.
The Zambian expatriate is aware that the only way to stop Dynamos who have also turned Barbourfields Stadium into their favourite hunting ground is by finding a solution to his team’s three-match goal drought.
“Yes, we have not scored in more than 270 minutes but we can break that duck tomorrow. All we have to do is believe in ourselves and score. Our strength has been to score more than our opponents and whenever we do find the back of the net, we just score more and that is what we want to do against Dynamos,” said Kaindu.
It will definitely be a tricky game. Bosso lost the first leg 0-1 with Washington Phakamisa striking the solitary goal at the National Sports Stadium on Week 12 when a monumental mistake saw Kaindu throw Njabulo Nyoni in between the posts despite the fact that the veteran goalkeeper was match rusty.
Highlanders have to raise their game and if they play like they have been doing of late, then they can forget about beating Dynamos.
Bosso have to try to repeat their top-drawer performance that they displayed when they beat Caps United 4-0 at Barbourfields Stadium at the beginning of the season. Highlanders in that match were attacking and defending as a team, something they are no longer doing of late and Kaindu and Mark Mathe will surely be under pressure to see the lads deliver.
A win against Dynamos will put them three points ahead from the same number of games.
Their midfielders, especially their wingers are failing to track back, exposing their wingbacks especially the porous left where Bruce Kangwa might find himself at the mercy of the age defying Murape Murape who reserves his best for big guns Caps United and Highlanders.
After his team beat Bosso in the first leg, he quipped that it was written in his contract that Dynamos must beat Highlanders.
The Bulawayo team lacks a player who can rise above the rest and assert himself as a saviour to the team’s multitude of followers after close to a decade of being dominated by the Harare giants.
Kaindu prefers to use Knox Mutizwa on the right side of midfield with Valentine Ndaba on the left while Mthulisi Maphosa has been playing behind the strikers.
Joel Ngodzo, Welcome Ndiweni, Pasca Manhanga and Godfrey Makaruse are all challenging for starting positions in the midfield where the battle is likely to be won or lost.
Ariel “Mangoye” Sibanda who has been in brilliant form guarding the posts for Highlanders is expected to start.
The back four of Innocent Mapuranga, Erick Mudzingwa, Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu and Brian Kangwa is likely to be retained.
Dynamos have issued warning shots with manager Richard Chihoro saying they are coming for maximum points.
“This is our last Premiership game in Bulawayo and we want to leave something positive for our fans. Save for the players like Anesu Gondo, Stephen Alimenda and Sydney Linyama, we have a fairly good side that will fight for the points.
“Everyone is looking forward to the game and playing against Highlanders has always been one of the games that our players look forward to. We however cannot count on history because this is a new ball game and we have to treat it like it is and avoid complacency,” said Chihoro.
Players expected to carry the day for Dynamos are veteran Murape Murape, Devon Chafa, Russell Madamombe, Ronald Chitiyo, Tafadzwa Rusike, Oscar Machapa and Cliff Sekete.
They also have Bloemfontein Celtics flop Roderick Mutuma who will either partner Congolese forward Fabrice Mbiba or Phakamisa upfront with Simba Sithole expected to come from the bench in the second half as has been the case in some of the matches.
Themba Ndlovu the only DeMbare player to feature in all Premiership matches so far will marshal the defence twinning with Augustine Mbara at central defence while young Blessing Moyo and Ocean Mushure start as wingbacks.
While Highlanders and Dynamos lock horns, second placed ZPC Kariba will be at home to Shabanie Mine at Gwanzura.
Caps United and Hwange play their games tomorrow against Chiredzi and Chicken Inn at Rufaro Stadium and Luveve Stadium respectively.
Fixtures
Today: Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields, 3PM SuperSport), Buffaloes v Bantu Rovers (Sakubva), Harare City v Chapungu (Rufaro), Triangle United v Black Rhinos (Gibbo), FC Platinum v How Mine (Mandava), ZPC Kariba v Shabanie Mine (Gwanzura)
Tomorrow: Caps United v Chiredzi (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Hwange (Luveve, 3PM SuperSport)
derick.khumalo